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National Park Service Evaluation Guidelines
Right: The brochure that park ranger Jennifer Kays and visitors to the new National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. are reading is the first park folder to be evaluated using a program developed by Randi Korn & Associates of Alexandria, Virginia. The program tests the effectiveness of the brochure in communicating with visitors.  

Visitors read park brochure at the World War II Memorial

  • If conducting a public survey that asks ten or more visitors the same type of questions, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) must approve the survey.
  • National Park Service-sponsored public surveys, including visitor evaluations of interpretive media, must comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Implemented by OMB, a major goal of the Paperwork Reduction Act is to reduce the "paperwork burdens on the public."
  • In consultation with OMB, the National Park Service has developed an expedited approval process for NPS-sponsored surveys. To qualify for the expedited approval, visitor surveys must be approved by the NPS Social Science Office and by OMB, a process that takes approximately 45 days.
  • To learn more about the guidelines and how to complete the required forms, visit the NPS Social Science program website.
  
Author: Harpers Ferry Center
Last Updated:
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